09-05-2025
Former national junior hockey player seen wandering barefoot, appearing mentally unwell
KUALA LUMPUR: Several TikTok videos showing a barefoot man wandering aimlessly and speaking incoherently, appearing to be mentally unwell, have gone viral.
Comments on the videos identified the man as former national junior hockey player Mohamad Asmawi Zaidi, who once represented Malaysia in tournaments held in Germany, India, and Pakistan.
Asmawi, who began playing hockey at the age of 12, was part of the national Under-16 team and played in the 2009 Junior Hockey World Cup in Johor Baru.
A former teammate, who played alongside Asmawi in Germany, confirmed his identity.
"It's true, the man in the video is Asmawi, my former teammate. We played together for Terengganu and also attended Sekolah Sukan Bandar Penawar, now known as Sekolah Sukan Tunku Ismail (SSTMI)," he said.
"It breaks my heart to see Mawi (Asmawi) like that. He was once a cheerful and highly skilled player. I never imagined he would end up this way. I've known him since we were kids. Perhaps the pressure became too much and caused him to lose his way," he added.
The former teammate said Asmawi, now 36, left his hockey career and returned to his hometown at around age 25.
"I was told this is the second time this has happened. About five years ago, he recovered after receiving treatment in hospital. I didn't expect him to relapse. I sincerely hope someone will step in to help him recover," he said.
